Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address

Debate between Bradley Thomas and Darren Jones

Monday 16th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my previous answer.

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

Does the Minister believe that a declaration of interests form should have been submitted for a role as significant as this?

[Darren Jones]

I agree that all process should be followed, yes.

Digital ID: Public Consultation

Debate between Bradley Thomas and Darren Jones

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

Digital ID is the premium option of one login. In many ways, one login is a great system, but it still has lots of challenges, not least because we cannot pull all these systems together into one place for citizens. That is what digital ID enables us to do, because people can prove authentically that they are who they say they are and are not just logging in with someone else’s details. That is what makes the scheme much more exciting for public service reform in the future.

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

My constituents have been incredibly vocal in telling me that they do not want this. Frankly, because trust in the Government has eroded so much, this scheme is dead in the water. If the Government go ahead with it, what will they do to ensure that there is no single depository containing the data of millions of citizens that could present a single point of failure from a security perspective?

[Darren Jones]

I can confirm that the Government will not be doing any such thing.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bradley Thomas and Darren Jones

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

T6. The Information Commissioner’s Office revealed that Lord Alli’s pass to No. 10 was requested by a staff member of the Labour party. Was it the Prime Minister’s then chief of staff who made the request?

[Darren Jones]

I do not know.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bradley Thomas and Darren Jones

Thursday 23rd October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

T6. In the absence of a plan, the Government appear to be centralising power and bureaucracy in the form of new quangos. More than 25 have been created since this Government came into office. What is the Minister doing to drive ministerial accountability and, crucially, to ensure that there are sunset clauses so that when quangos have met their objectives, they are wound up and come to an end?

[Darren Jones]

The Government agree with the principle of the hon. Member’s question. As I said to the House earlier, we want to reduce the layers of bureaucracy and to be able to deliver more action and fewer words. That is why we are taking action to close arm’s length bodies and other institutions. Most significantly, we have announced that we will close NHS England and bring decisions back into the Department for Health and Social Care for Ministers to make.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bradley Thomas and Darren Jones

Tuesday 3rd December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

The right hon. Gentleman seems to have forgotten the cost that working people paid as a consequence of his party’s actions in government, with inflation on house prices racing to 11%, the cost of living crisis, higher energy bills and a loss of grip on public spending. People suffered a direct cost in their disposable income because of the actions of the Conservative party. This Labour Government have wiped the slate clean, and we are getting a grip on public spending, fixing the foundations and delivering for working people.

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

Will the Chancellor admit, as she has already done in the media, that wages will be lower because of her jobs tax?

[Darren Jones]

This Government’s commitment to economic growth will improve living standards for people right across the country. I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer and suggest that his party might want to apologise before trying to lecture this Government on the change that we are delivering.